DESCRIPTION

This module provides some skeletal methods for scalar-tying classes. See
perltie for a list of the functions required in tying a scalar to a
package. The basic Tie::Scalar package provides a new
method, as well
as methods TIESCALAR
, FETCH
and STORE
. The Tie::StdScalar
package provides all the methods specified in perltie. It inherits from
Tie::Scalar and causes scalars tied to it to behave exactly like the
built-in scalars, allowing for selective overloading of methods. The new
method is provided as a means of grandfathering, for classes that forget to
provide their own TIESCALAR
method.

For developers wishing to write their own tied-scalar classes, the methods
are summarized below. The perltie section not only documents these, but
has sample code as well:

TIESCALAR classname, LIST

The method invoked by the command tie$scalar,classname
. Associates a new
scalar instance with the specified class. LIST
would represent additional
arguments (along the lines of AnyDBM_File and compatriots) needed to
complete the association.

FETCH this

Retrieve the value of the tied scalar referenced by this.

STORE this, value

Store data value in the tied scalar referenced by this.

DESTROY this

Free the storage associated with the tied scalar referenced by this.
This is rarely needed, as Perl manages its memory quite well. But the
option exists, should a class wish to perform specific actions upon the
destruction of an instance.

MORE INFORMATION

The perltie section uses a good example of tying scalars by associating
process IDs with priority.